Island



. E. MILLER.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLHZATION FILED FEB. 21, 919.

Patented J 11116 17, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 5a. 21. 1919.

Patented June 17, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. MILLER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGN OR TO GLIDING WALTZ AMUSEMENT 00., 0F PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed. February 21, 1919.

ing or swaying motion thereto as they are propelled over a fixed or otherwise definite path.

The invention consists of an endless irregular track arranged beneath a fioor which has a slot of similar contour, a tublike carrier for passengers pivotally supported on a truck operable over. the track and provided with a depending rod extending through, the floor slot for connection with apropelling cable, and a pair of plates defining a slot through which the rod operates, said plates being adjustable to vary its contour and its registry with the floor slot to.

thereby effect more or less tilting or lateral swinging of the carrier as it travels above the floor.

The invention further resides in the features of construction and the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a floor plan of an amusement pavilion equipped with the improved amusement device.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the track illustrating more clearly the construction and operation, and

Fig. 3 is a view through the mounting of the carrier as if taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, further elucidating the structure.

The numeral 1 designates the floor of an amusement building having an endless but preferably irregular slot 2 formed therein and in which operates a pendent rod 3 that carries or supports on its upper end the tub-like carriers 4 for passengers. Approaching steps 5 are here shown arranged to aid the passengers to alight in and from the tubs 4 although the steps may be dispensed with and the passengers made to en- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 191-9.

Serial No. 278,342.

ter direct from the floor or otherwise. The

size ofthe tubs is suiiicient to accommodate {)wo or more passengers, as may be deemed est.

The depending rod 3 is provided below the floor with a pair of oppositely extending trunnions 6 having journal bearings in a pair of saddle or strap members 7 where they are secured by overlying straps 8. These trunnion-supporting members are carried on a truck frame 9 that is supported on flanged wheels 10 designed to travel over the rails 11. Bed or base parts 12 support the rails of the track, said parts being spaced to permit the downwardly extending rod to operate therebetween and to pass therebeneath where it is formed with a rope clamp 13 for gripping the cable, 14. The cable passes about large pulleys 15 at the ends of the looped track to propel and guide the cable. Guard rails 16 are secured to the under side of the floor on opposite sides of the slot to prevent the truck from jumping the track rails 11. i i I a the under side of the bed plates or parts 12 are secured two sets of plates 17 which define a narrow slot for guiding the lower end of the carrier rod 3. These plates 17 are mounted for lateral adjustment by means of the screw bolts 18 and apertures 19 of the plates, whereby the guiding slot 20, defined by said plates, may be irregularly shaped relative to the floor slot. Thus, if the guide plates 17 are adjusted to the right (Fig. 2,) the upper end of the rod 3 will incline to the left, as depicted in dotted lines, and vice versa.

In ope-ration, the adjustable guide plates 17 are preferably fixed before the machinery is set in motion although it is obvious that further adjustment may readily be effected as desired simply by removing the predetermined bolts 18 and setting them in other positions. The large driving pulleys are then rotated to pull the endless cable and thereby propel the tub-like courses to the observers in the carriers but which, in reality, are given irregular and unexpected sways to variable degrees, dependent upon the adjustment of the guide plates.

This unexpected swaying and rolling motion creates excitement and sensation among the occupants, and the thrills may be in creased or diminished according to the lateral adjustment of the guide plates and the intervals of such adjustment along the track.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An amusement device comprising a floor having an endless slot therein, supporting bed sections underlying the floor on opposite sides of the slot and 1n spaced relation to the floor, track rails supported on the bed sections, Wheeled trucks operable over the track, guard rails secured to the under side of the floor to cooperate with the wheels of the trucks, tub-like carriers arranged above the floor and each equipped with a depending supporting rod passing downwardly through the floor slot and between the bed sections, each rod having oppositely extending trunnions j-ournaled on a respective truck for lateral swinging, an endless cable engaged with the lower ends of the rods for propelling the carriers, and means for guiding the lower ends of the rods and adjustable laterally of the floor slot to impart at intervals sidewise motion to said carriers.

2. An amusement device comprising a track, a wheeled truck thereon having journaled bearings, a vertical supporting member having intermediate horizontal trunnions engaged in the bearings, a car mounted on the upper end of the supporting member, and means adjustable for guiding the lower end of the latter.

3. An amusement device comprising a track consisting of spaced rails, spaced supporting bed sections for the rails, means adjustable on the sections to define a guide capable of having predetermined irregular course relative to the track, a truck operable on the track and a carrier movably supported on the truck and having a part guided by said means for imparting irregular motion to the carrier by and during travel of the truck.

4. An amusement device comprising a track consisting of spaced rails, a supporting bed therefor, plates adjustable on the bed to define a guiding slot having a course irregular relative to the track, and means operable over the track and having a passenger-carrying part movable relative to the track and engageable in the guide slot whereby irregular motion will be imparted to said part by and during movement of the aforesaid means over the track.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM E. MILLER.

Witnesses:

ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

